Food delivery drivers could win a major pay boost and better working conditions, under a landmark deal jointly proposed by the Transport Workers’ Union and Uber Eats and DoorDash – Australia’s two biggest food delivery services.

Those improved conditions would include accident insurance for injured or killed workers. Eighteen delivery workers have died on the job in Australia since the union began tracking fatalities in 2017.

The deal is yet to be reviewed and decided by the national workplace tribunal, the Fair Work Commission.

But this would be an historic deal if the commission does ratify it. It would apply not just to Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers, but industry-wide to other food delivery companies, such as Hungry Panda. It would also set a precedent in other areas of the “gig economy”: from rideshare drivers to contract carers hired via digital job platforms.

News of the proposed deal came the day before rival........

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